The real Yellowstone: A battle for the cowboy way of life

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Nearly half of all land in the West of the United States is owned by the federal government. Some people are trying to change that; they argue that part of it should be used for housing, amid a nationwide shortage. But this debate about land and development has touched a nerve in the Western psyche, tapping into bigger fears that the old way of life is under threat. It’s about identity, trust, and the growing popularity of cowboy culture - driven in part by the TV series Yellowstone. In an increasingly polarised United States, this debate about public land is uniting cowboys, environmental activists, conservatives, and progressives. Ellie House reports from Montana, a state where the prospect of a public land selloff is deeply unpopular, and where people feel like their cultures and traditions are at stake. Producer: Josephine Casserly Production co-ordinators: Katie Morrison and Gemma Ashman Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar Editor: Penny Murphy (Photo: Women parading flags on horseback at a rodeo in Bozeman, Montana, July 2025. Credit: Ellie house)